Driving mechanism for washing-machines



w. I. MoIIAN.

DRIVING MECHANISM FOR WASHING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED IuLv 23. 1919.4

1,393,957, 1 Panama oen r18, 1921-.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM' F. MRAN,

CORPORATION 0F ILLINOIS.

DRIVING MECHANISM FOR WASHING-MACHINES.

Application led July 23,

To all whom t may concern.'-

Be it known that I, lVrLLmM F. a citizen of the United States, and dent of Chicago, in the county of CookA and State of Illinois, have invented certainnew and useful Improvements in Driving Mechanism for lashing-Machines, of which the following is a description, reference being had to the vaccompanying drawing, which forms'a part of my specification.

My invention relates more particularly to the automatic reversing mechanism for driving the drum ordasher, or other suit able agitating element, of a. washing ma- MoRaN, 2L I'BSlchine, whereby a predetermined amount ofy movement or rotation, in given directions, is provided. The invention has for its object. the provision of means whereby-the power-imparting mechanism for the drum or dasher will be maintained in positive operative relation, under all conditions, until the reversing elements of the driving mechanism are brought into a certain relation, thus insuring positive rotation of the drum or dasher.

lThe objects and advantages of my improved mechanism will lbe more fully comprehended from the detailed description of the accompanying drawing, wherein :l

Figure 1 isl a side elevation of my-improved: mechanism withv the housing or casing and portions of the mechanism shown in section. Y

F ig. 2 is a detail sectional view taken on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1 with the housing and gearing omitted.

Fig.' 3 is a detail driven shaft.

The mechanism is adapted to be inclosed in a suitable housing, partially shown at 10, which is intended to bel secured to the end wall of the tub or water-holding portion of a washingV machine; the mechanism being intended to properlyvrotate or agitate the drum or dasher within the washing machine. The mechanism is intended to be powerdriven, generally by means of a suitable electric motor not. shown, wherebypower is transmitted to the vertically disposed shaft 11 which extends` into a suitable housing or gear-casing12, which is rovided with'suitable screw gearing Where- Ey the driven shaft 13 is operated. The housing 10 provides suitable bearing for-the shaft 18, which is provided with bevel gears view' of a portion of the Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 18, 1921. 1919. serial No. 312,654.

14 and 15 secured at proper distances apart and loosely mounted on the shaft; the spacing of the gears 14 and 15 being commensurate with the diameter of the large gear 16 which latter is secured to the end of a suitable stub-shaft, not shown, lso as to cause rotation of the latter and therefore also of the drum or dasher which is controlled thereby. lVith the gears 14 and 15 meshing with the large gear 16 at opposite sides of the center thereof, it is evident that gear 16 will be given opposite rotation by the gears 14 and 15 when the latter are alternately brought into operative relation with the driven shaft 18.

The driven shaft 13 is preferably provided with an intermediate square section 17, see Fig. 3, at a point intermediate of the gears 14 and 15; and this square section 17 is pro vided with a double clutch element shown in the nature of an elongated sleeve 18, slidably mounted on the square section 17 of vided with clutch elements 19, 19 adapted to form interlocking or clutching engagement with the lugs or clutch surfaces 20 and 21 secured to or formed on the gears 14 and 15 respectively. The clutch element or sleeve 18 is shown provided with circumferential flanges 22, 22 arranged in spaced relation at an intermediate point, between which is operatively disposed a yoke member or shoe 23 which hasV threaded relation with the screw or shaft 24 disposed parallel with the driven shaft 13. The screw or shaft 24 is rotatably mounted in the casing 10 and is rotated by means of a pinion 25 secured to gear 14 and meshing with the gear 26 on the screw or shaft 24 thus causing the latter to rotate during rotation of large gear 16, or in other words during rotation of bevel gear 14. 4

With this construction it is evident that the yoke or shoe 23 (being held against rotationl by its straddling relation with sleeve 18) is caused to move lengthwise of screw or shaft 24 during the rotation of the latter; and by reason of screw or shaft 24 being controlled by gear 14, it is apparent that screw or shaft 24 will be caused to rotate alternately in opposite directions, so that the shoe or yoke 23 will alternately be caused to move in opposite directions lengthwise of shaft 24.

The shoe or yoke 23 is shown provided Vthe yokel or circumferential flanges 22 on the clutchv `l 'provide the clutch sleeve with oppositely disposed pins 27 and 28, both slidably mounted in the lower .end of shoe so as to engage with the and thereby place the spring of said pin under increased tension so that when the clutch element is disengaged from eithergear 14 or 15, the respective pin will induce a nal seating vor interlocking relation of the clutch element with the gear or pinion toward: which the clutch element has been initially shifted through the action of the yoke or shoe 23.

The mechanism thus far described comprises the subject matterof my applica-tion iiled September 9th, 1918, and bearingSerial No. 253,223; and it is in connection with the improved mechanism shown and described in` said application that the improvement` hereinto bedescribed is to be employed.

ln prderto prevent the possibility of the clutch element being prematurely forced out V4of clutching relation with the respective gears or ninions, due to the. action of the spring-controlled pins or plungers carried by the yoke or shoe, especially where the ma-iV chinc'may be running under a light load, 18, at anyY suit able pointv intermediate ofthe circumferential flanges and one end thereof, with a pin or plunger 30 slidably mounted in a suitable aperture in the sleeve, with its innerv end v preferably tapered-or beveled and arrairgedz to enter either one of a pair of slight de pressions or sockets 31 formed in the'square section. 17 of the driven shaftv 13. The

depressions or sockets arev preferably like? v wise formed With tapered or beveled sides so as to permit the pin or plunger'BO tobe forced out of the vdepressions or sockets upon due pressure being applied to the clutch sleeve 1 8 through the action ofthe yoke or v shoe 23.'y Theplungeior pin 30 is yieldingly maintained in inward' or depressed position by means of aflat spring'82; one end whereof is vsecured to the clutch sleeve-18 in any suitable manner as for example by the set-screw 33 `so as to leave the oppositeor free end of the spring,V

to which the pin or plunger'BO isV secured, toV flex or yield upwardly or'aiv'ay from the clutch sleeve 18. The square section 17 of Vthe vdriven shaftl is provided .With a .pair

parent is, pin 27 protrud-es 4toward the a suitable spring, as forexample gitudinal alinement and at suitable distances apart commensurate with the degree ofmaximum movement permitted to clutch sleeve 18 intermediate. of gears 14 and 15, see Figs. 1 and3; With' this arrangement, it is apthat When the clutch element or sleeve 18 is atits eXtreme right hand position, as

Ashownin Fig, `1, the plunger or pin 30 Will be in engagement with the rightrhand depression or socket 31; While yon'the other hand, when the clutch element or'sleeve has been movedto its extreme left hand position, the pin or plunger 30 Vwill be in engagement with lthe lefthand depression or socket. v Y v Y The spring32 is of a tension su'llicient to maintain the Vpin or plunger 3() in either one of the Vsockets or depressions against the action of the springcontrolled plungers 27 and 28 and Will therefore maintain the clutch element or sleeve in operative relation With'the pinionor gear 14er 15, as the case may be, until the yokeor shoepositively forces the clutch element or sleeve 18 in the direction of movement of the yokev or shoe; the movement being induced when shoe 23 bodily engages either flange 22 vof sleeve 18. The taperedor beveled end of the pin orplungerBO'Will permit shifting of the clutch element orY sleeve Whend'ue pressure is applied theretoyduringvwhich movement the inner end of the pin or plunger 30 Will be' caused to' slide along the shaft-section 17 until it reachesthe point of the adjacently placed depression or socket 31.V

With thisconstruction, 'any tendency of 4the spring-controlled .pinsor plungers 27 aga-inst, so that the drum or dasherjwillV at all timesl be given a predetermined'V number 'of rotations .or movements in alternate directions, commensurate With the ratio betweenthe gears or pinionslll and 15and large gear 16. Y Y l The construction shown and described I believe to Y,be'thex simplest .and best adaptaf tion of the invention which, vhovvever,is susceptible of modification without; departing from thespirit of my invention.

Vhat claim is j Y Y 1. In mechanism'` of thel class'des'cri'bed, the combination of a driven-shaft, a pair of gears loosely-mounted thereon, a circumferential gear With Which said first .mentioned gears mesh butV at opposite sides of the airisl thereof, a Vdouble'clutchfelement slidablyV mounted onathe shaft'inte'rmediate of said pair of gears,means, controllable-.through tuat-ed, saidme'ans comprising yielding portions adapted to contact with said clutch element in advance of the major portion of said means, and to induce iinal movement of the clutch element into positive operative relation with the selective gear of said pair of gears, and yielding means whereby said clutch element iS held against the action o1" said yielding portions until said major portion of said first means is brought into positive relation with said clutch element.

2. In mechanism of the class described, the combination of a driven-shaft, a pair of gears loosely mounted thereon, in spaced relation with each other, a double clutch element slidably mounted on said shaft intermediate of said gears, the clutch element and shaft being caused to rotate together, means adapted to have yielding and positive engagement with the clutch element whereby the clutch element is alternately shifted into clutching engagement with one of said pair of gears, with means mounted on said clutch element and having operative relation with the driven-shaft whereby the clutch element is yieldingly locked in its adjusted positions on said shaft until said first mentioned means, is brought into positive operative relation with said clutch element.

3. In mechanism of the class described, the combination with a driven shaft, a pair of gears loosely mounted thereon, in spaced relation with each other, a clutch element disposed intermediate of said gears and slidably mounted on said shaft so as to rotate therewith, and clutch-shifting means provided with spring-controlled plungers adapted to have advance engagement with the clutch element and induce final movement of the clutch element into operative relation with the selective gear of of a spring-controlled element Secured to said clutch element and adapted to have operative relation with said driven shaft so as to maintain the clutch element in its adjusted position against the initial action of the spring-controlled plungers of said clutch-shifting means.

4t. In mechanism or" the class described, the combination oi" a driVenshat, a pair of gears loosely mounted thereon. in spaced relation with each other, a double clutch element disposed intermediate of said gears, in slidable relation with the driven shaft so as to rotate therewith, clutch shifting means, alternately movable in opposite directions, said means being provided with a pair or' spring-controlled members on opposite sides of said means adapted to engage with the clutch element in advance of the main portion of the means, to be compressed thereby, whereby linai movement or.' the clutch element into complete clutching position is induced, and a spring-controlled pin disposed through said clutch element so as to engage with said driven shaft, the driven shaft being provided with pin-receiving portions at predetermined points correlated to the maximum degree of movement of said clutch element, whereby the clutch element is maintained in adjusted position against thel action of the spring-controlled members of said clutch-shifting means until the clutch element is positively engaged by said clutch-shifting means.

VILLIAM F. MORAN.

said pair of gears,

iVitnesses F. A. FLoRnLL, G. HEIDMAN. 

